Combined freight transport emits 60-90% less CO2 emissions

According to the results of a study conducted by the d-fine analysis company for UIRR, combined freight transport produces 60 to 90% less carbon dioxide emissions compared to road transport, even in the context in which it is done with trucks. latest generation Euro 6.

Also, the study, which analyzed the energy efficiency of combined freight transport, reveals an energy consumption (MJ / tkm) of 40 to 70% lower than the alternative that involves only road transport of goods with Euro 6 trucks.

10 transport routes analyzed

UIRR called on the services of d-fine GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany to prepare the study , which analyzes 10 transport routes representative of European transport demand, covering the 9 corridors of the TEN-T network. The methodology was based on the analysis of existing carbon calculators as well as the actual energy mix (2020) of the countries involved.

According to the analysis, EcoTransIT is one of the most prominent CO2 emission calculators in the freight sector.

A similar study was last conducted in 2003, with EU funding through the PACT program. The results of the d-fine analysis show a substantial improvement over 20 years ago, when an average carbon footprint of 45% was found compared to road transport at the time.

Over the last 20 years, the railway infrastructure has been modernized, allowing the use of 740 m long trains in many more European countries. Also, from 2009 to 2019, the volumes of goods shipped using combined transport increased by 90% .

Optimistic prospects for combined freight

The prospects for door-to-door combined transport are gratifying: further improving the performance of combined transport does not require scientific breakthroughs. Due to the already high level of electrification in European railway infrastructure, combined transport is able to use electricity directly from renewable sources. Thus, its carbon footprint is improving year by year as countries make progress in this regard.

The study also points out that the full electrification technology of the intermodal transport chain is already available today. Actors in the intermodal transmission chain are taking important steps towards full electrification, through which they will be able to use directly the electricity generated from renewable sources for transport services.